RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION TROY, NEW YORK December 12, 1944 Dr. Ray Palmer Baker Dean of Students Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York Dear Dr. Baker: You informed me in your letter of November 8 that, at a recent meeting, the American Council on Education went on record as recommending that veterans going to college, who have completed Army basic training, should be given credit for physical education. The Association of Colleges and Universities also gave its unan- imous approval of this recommendation. You said that the members believe "that veterans who will be older than ordinary civilian students and who, in most cases, have exercised authority as com- missioned officers, will resent the assumption that they are not competent to determine what exercise and recreation they should take, Since the transition will be difficult at best, the weight of opinion favors the removal of what appears to be a psychological obstacle that is likely to be unfortunate. It was recommended by these educational bodies that the recreation for veterans be placed on a purely voluntary basis." The physical education staff at Rensselacr Polytechnic Institute has advanced the following reasons why veterans should not be exempt from physical education: A RECREATIONAL PROGRAM IS BEST SUITED FOR VETERANS ~ + It is not the intention of the physical education staff at this Institute to give veterans a repetition of the army or navy basic physical training course. The nature of the course for veterans would be entirely recreational and the activities elective. At this Institute, where we have a varicty of recreational facil- ities, the veterans could elect either handball, swimming, bag punching, basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis or softball. The only request made would be thet they. attend Regularly and at a eomeiried time? =. ° : = , te ‘the reaction of the few present veterans now tine physical education is a criterion of the attitude of future veterans, we feel that none will take a positive’ stand egainst an interesting, beneficial, compulsory recreational program such a8 we are ina position to give. The ‘few. members of the advance guard of. eterdhs who are now here enjoy their activities. ace oe Le , VOLUNTARY vs COMPULSORY PHYSICAL EDUCATION . If physical “education were placed on a voluntary basis, those veterans who need ‘physical recreation most would not take ade vantage of it. Also, many of the physicall y fit would exercise only irregularly, We must safefuard this latter group from a sudden tet dowm in physical training and a resultant physical softening-up. Dr. Bilik, a physician and physiotherapist, with thirty years exe perience in physical education, now in charge of rehabilitation in a large Army hospital, has this to say e "Under normal circumstances very few men voluntarily participate in physical. education, It almost appears that you haye to be born with some sort of a hormone in the body that compels you to exercise, I have never been suce cessful in inducing anyone to adhere to constant Dy #t cad, education," LACK OF TRAINING IN PHYSICAL SKILIS | Je Those ‘veterans whe were in college before going ‘into the service had a “skills” program there, The majority of veterans,.